New Zealand Silver Ferns Cathrine Latu has been cut from the World Cup squad. Photo / Greg Bowker
The Silver Ferns' selectors have taken a massive punt in naming uncapped shooter Malia Paseka in the World Cup team at the expense of experienced star Cathrine Latu.
The axing of Latu is one of several big talking points of the 12-strong team for the Sydney tournament named today, with veteran midcourters Liana Leota and Joline Henry also missing out on selection. Latu, who served a four-year stand-down from international netball in order to be able to represent New Zealand at a World Cup having played for Samoa as a youngster, is consistently the most accurate shooter in the ANZ Championship, but her volume and track record against Australian defenders was a big concern for the selectors.
Given the Ferns' poor run of form against Australia over the past two years, the selectors recognised they needed to try something new, with 20-year-old Paseka offering more athleticism and versatility.
Paseka was tipped as a player for the future after an eye-catching display for the NZ Under-21 side in their win over Australia in the final of the World Youth Cup in 2013. Later that year she was named as one of four training partners to accompany the Silver Ferns on their tour of England and Scotland, but she is yet to make her senior international debut.
Latu will turn out for the NZA team in a number of warm-up matches against visiting international sides ahead of the World Cup and will be stand-by option should injury strike in the shooting circle before the tournament starts.
In a tight race for midcourt positions, Steel midcourter Shannon Francois earned the nod ahead of Leota and Camilla Lees, while Henry misses out on the wing defence spot to Kayla Cullen.
Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu said while it was a tough call to leave some big names out of the team, the selectors needed to pick in-form players.
"We've had some tough contesting for places over the past few days," Taumaunu said.
"It was imperative that we selected on form, and it's important to have versatile playing combinations and this group provides that. There is no doubt this has been the toughest selection process in the last four years but that is what you expect in a World Cup year."
Inspirational captain Casey Kopua has fulfilled her ambition of earning her place in the team after a lengthy rehabilitation following a serious knee injury sustained last October while senior players Leana de Bruin, Laura Langman, Maria Tutaia and Katrina Grant also return from the team that lost the 2011 World Cup final to Australia.
It will be the first World Cup for Paseka, Cullen, Phoenix Karaka, Bailey Mes, Grace Rasmussen and Shannon Francois, with only Jodi Brown and de Bruin having tasted Netball World Cup success in Jamaica in 2003.
The Silver Ferns will play three tests in the lead-up to the World Cup, hosting Fiji and South Africa later this month.
The Netball World Cup will be held at Sydney Olympic Park from August 7-16.
Also named this afternoon is the NZA team which will travel to Sydney before the NWC2015 gaining valuable international game experience against England and 21/U Australia.
Silver Ferns Team:
Jodi Brown (Central), Kayla Cullen (Northern), Leana de Bruin (WBOP), Shannon Francois (South), Katrina Grant (Central), Phoenix Karaka (South), Casey Kopua (WBOP), Laura Langman (Northern), Bailey Mes (Mainland), Malia Paseka (WBOP), Grace Rasmussen (WBOP) and Maria Tutaia (Northern).
NZA Team:
Gina Crampton (South), Temalisi Fakahokotau (Northern), Ellen Halpenny (WBOP), Cathrine Latu (Northern), Camilla Lees (Northern), Jamie-Lee Price (WBOP), Storm Purvis (South), Te Paea Selby-Rickit (South), Samantha Sinclair (WBOP), Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick (Northern), Zoe Walker (Mainland), Ameliaranne Wells (Central).
Casey Kopua (captain)
It was touch and go at the beginning of the year whether the Ferns' brilliant leader would be fit in time to lead her side out in the opening ceremony at Sydney's Allphones Arena - the same court on which she suffered a horrific knee injury in last year's third Constellation Cup test. After a determined and committed rehab effort, Kopua defied preseason predictions, returning to the court for the Magic in round 12. The star defender still has a way to go before she reaches top speed, but the mana and leadership she brings to the group is invaluable. It is hoped the warm-up tests against Fiji and South Africa in the lead-up to the World Cup will ensure 87-test Silver Fern is fit and firing by the time the team hit Sydney.
Laura Langman (vice captain)
One of few players that could consider her position safe in this World Cup team, Langman has been the rock in the midcourt for a number of years. Since making her international debut in 2005, Langman has never missed a match for New Zealand, playing 116 consecutive tests - a credit to both her endurance and consistency. While Langman has spent most of her career at centre, it is expected we may see the super-fit midcourter have more time in the wing defence bib at next month's tournament as the Ferns look to try something new on attack.
Jodi Brown
One of just two players in the team to have won a World Cup (Leana de Bruin being the other player remaining from the Ferns' 2003 win in Jamaica), Brown brings experience and craft to the shooting circle. With the ability to play both shooting positions, the veteran shooter's value in a tournament team was underlined in last year's Commonwealth Games, when she was forced to almost single-handedly carry the shooting end after Maria Tutaia, Cathrine Latu and Ellen Halpenny all went down with injuries.
Kayla Cullen
The athletic star will make her first World Cup appearance after narrowly missing out on the 2011 squad as a teenager. Cullen also missed last year's Commonwealth Games after suffering a serious knee injury in September 2013. One of the quickest players in world netball, Cullen will cover both the goal defence and wing defence positions in Sydney, although she has also been used further up the court in the past.
Leana de Bruin
The veteran defender is set to play in her fifth World Cup in Sydney, after making her first appearance at the 1999 tournament in Christchurch for South Africa. De Bruin, who turns 38 next week, has come off a brilliant season with the Magic, leading her injury depleted side to a finals spot with some typically inspirational performances. A cool head at the back for the Ferns, de Bruin's aerial ability, timing and court sense make her a key member of the defensive pack.
Shannon Francois
Francois edged out Camilla Lees and Ferns' veteran in a tight battle for midcourt spots, following some consistent performances for the Steel this season. Francois' fitness and ability to cover off both the wing attack and centre positions also caught the eye of selectors as they looked for the right blend in the midcourt to complement Langman and Grace Rasmussen.
Katrina Grant
Keeping with their well-established defensive unit, Grant returns to the side following some strong performances in last year's Constellation Cup series following a move out to goal defence following several seasons at goal keep. An astute reader of the game on defence, Grant is capable of making her presence felt in an aerial contest as well as the close-marking situation.
Phoenix Karaka
Karaka is possibly a beneficiary of a strategic decision by the selectors to overload the defensive end in order to take some of the pressure off Kopua as she returns from injury. But the 21-year-old is certainly deserving of a place in the team, having impressed with a series of strong performances in the Ferns' tour to Fiji at the beginning of the year. The athletic defender has an stunning vertical leap, with her timing on her defence of the shot a particular strength in her game.
Bailey Mes
After making her international debut in the midcourt, Mes has reverted to the shooting circle in recent times where her out-and-out athletic ability sets the platform. Fleet-footed and possessing an impressive standing jump, the 186cm Mes has all the necessary attributes to make a quality shooter, although her shooting accuracy has at times let her down in the black dress. A move to the Tactix this season saw Mes gain more court time at ANZ Championship level, boosting both her consistency and confidence.
Malia Paseka
The selectors have taken a big gamble on the uncapped Paseka, who wins her place in the team at the expense of Cathrine Latu. Given the Ferns' poor run of form against Australia over the past two years, the selectors recognised they needed to try something new, with 20-year-old Paseka offering more athleticism and versatility. Paseka was tipped as a player for the future after an eye-catching display for the NZ Under-21 side in their win over Australia in the final of the World Youth Cup in 2013. Later that year she was named as one of four training partners to accompany the Silver Ferns on their tour of England and Scotland, but she is yet to make her senior international debut.
Grace Rasmussen
A controversial omission from last year's Commonwealth Games team, Rasmussen went on to establish her place in the Ferns' starting line-up later in the year after earning re-selection for the Constellation Cup series. One of the most consistent midcourt performers for New Zealand over the past two ANZ Championship seasons, Rasmussen's strengths are quickness off the line, silky feeding skills, a high work rate and determined defensive efforts.
Maria Tutaia
A naturally gifted shooter, Maria Tutaia has been a mainstay of the Silver Ferns for over a decade. One of the most feared shooters in world netball with her uncanny skill of being able to convert shots from all points of the circle, Tutaia's value to the team was underlined last year when she was sidelined for most of the international season with a foot injury.